Mount Union Faculty Members Receive STAR Grants

Given each spring by the Mount Union Office of Academic Affairs, the STAR Grants are awarded to faculty members who submit proposals for projects or research seen by an external review panel as innovated, creative and helpful to the development of the individual faculty members.

Matthews, assistant professor of political science and the director of Center for Public Service, received a grant to investigate the activities of three “educational centers” at liberal arts colleges in rural Appalachia. Each college was unique in how they utilized service-learning/community service activities but all share common goal of enhancing classroom learning through hands-on practical experiences. It is the hope of the research that a peer review journal article highlighting the unique work of each center will be developed using theoretical underpinnings of community based education and leadership techniques.

Schwartz, assistant professor of English and the director of writing across the curriculum, received a grant to develop an assessment plan for the Writing Across the Curriculum program at Mount Union College. Her research will be shared with a newly formed Writing Advisory Board, who will help her facilitate the assessment beginning in January of 2009.

Kadlecek, associate professor of human performance and sport business and chair of the Department of Human Performance and Sport Business, received a grant to analyze and compare the internal consulting services being offered by professional sports major leagues and develop student research projects from the findings.